NHS England digital empowerment guidance

NHS England have provided guidance on digital empowerment as requirements for NHS organisations to utilise as good practice. Our Integrated Care Board needs to ensure:

• People will be empowered, and their experience of health and care will be transformed, by the ability to access, manage and contribute to digital tools, information and services. 
• We provide a trustworthy place for people to find health information, apps and register to access NHS services. 
• We use the NHS App to create a standard online way for people to access the NHS. The app will work seamlessly with other services at national and local levels and, where appropriate, be integrated into patient pathways. 
• We significantly increase the number of women who are able to access their maternity record digitally, in support of a national target by 2023/24. 
• We work with the wider NHS, the voluntary sector, developers, and individuals in creating a range of apps to support particular conditions. 
• We support people with long-term conditions will be improved by interoperability of data, mobile monitoring devices and the use of connected home technologies over the next few years. 
• Patients’ Personal Health Records will hold a care plan that incorporates information added by the patient themselves, or their authorised carer. 

Our approach

Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB have several programmes that are supporting both people in our workforce and communities to improve their digital knowledge, skills and confidence to enhance their lifestyles, health and wellbeing.

Device accessibility

• Barriers: Affordability, deprivation
• Enablers: Device loan schemes, personal health budgets

Connectivity

• Barriers: Affordability of data, limited access to public WiFi, poor connectivity on NHS premises and rural locations                         
• Enablers: Pre-paid data packages, improved public WiFi

Digital activation

• Barriers: Lack of interest, skills, experience, no perceived benefits, distrust of data security   
• Enablers: Collaboration, skills patrnership, libraries, adult learning, VCFSE, volunteers, campaigns

Digital health literacy 

(ease of access & understanding of digital health resources)

• Barriers: Lack of awareness, excessive choice and confusion
• Enablers: Simplify the 'front door' and digital prescribing

Our achievements

We are supporting people to use digital technology to enhance their day to day lives in what matters to them.

• Empowering our citizens to take control of their own health and wellbeing
• Improving health outcomes for the people in our population
• Developing a healthier population through technology
• Educating our workforce on digital diversity, supporting user centred designed services
• Supporting our health system to meet national targets